Abstract Potato crops are severely affected by a wide range of viral pathogens, particularly aphid-transmitted viruses such as potato virus Y (PVY), potato leafroll virus (PLRV), potato virus A (PVA), potato virus S (PVS), and potato virus M (PVM), together with the mechanically and vegetatively transmitted potato virus X (PVX). These viruses cause substantial yield losses, reduce tuber quality, and threaten global seed certification systems. Their epidemiology is strongly influenced by vector dynamics, mixed infections, and environmental factors, including climate change. Accurate and early detection is therefore essential for effective disease management. This narrative review synthesizes literature retrieved from Scopus, Web of Science, ScienceDirect, PubMed, and Google Scholar, with searches conducted up to 31 August 2026, drawing on approximately 200 primary and review sources retained after eligibility screening. Traditional diagnostic methods, including visual inspection, serological assays (ELISA), and conventional RT-PCR, remain widely used but suffer from limitations in sensitivity, specificity, and field applicability. Recent advances, such as isothermal amplification techniques (LAMP and RPA), next-generation sequencing (NGS), CRISPR-based diagnostics, and nanotechnology-enabled biosensors, offer improved sensitivity, multiplexing capacity, and potential for rapid on-site detection, although most remain confirmatory or research-stage tools rather than validated replacements for established assays. This review provides a comprehensive overview of major potato viruses and critically evaluates both conventional and emerging diagnostic technologies, highlighting their role in the development of sustainable virus management strategies. Principal limitations of the reviewed evidence base include inconsistent validation of emerging assays against field-representative samples, limited interlaboratory reproducibility data, and uneven reporting of quantitative performance metrics across studies.
Abstract Obesity is a multifactorial metabolic disorder associated with insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes mellitus, cardiovascular diseases, and chronic low-grade inflammation. Conventional management strategies, including lifestyle modification and pharmacological interventions, remain central; however, their long-term efficacy is often limited by poor adherence, weight regain, and adverse side effects. These constraints have driven increasing interest in preventive, food-based approaches with improved safety and consumer acceptability. Edible flowers have emerged as promising functional ingredients due to their high content of bioactive compounds such as polyphenols, flavonoids, and anthocyanins, which exhibit anti-obesity potential. Evidence from in vitro , in vivo , and in silico studies indicates that floral bioactives, particularly from Rhododendron and Rosa species, modulate key metabolic pathways involved in obesity. These mechanisms include inhibition of digestive enzymes (pancreatic lipase, α-amylase, and α-glucosidase), reduction of nutrient absorption, attenuation of postprandial glycemic responses, regulation of adipocyte differentiation, and improvement of metabolic homeostasis. Advances in artificial intelligence (AI), including molecular docking, machine learning, and nutrigenomics, have enhanced the identification of bioactive-target interactions and supported the design of optimized functional formulations. Additionally, incorporation of floral bioactives into delivery systems such as functional beverages, dairy products, bakery items, and encapsulated formulations improves stability, bioavailability, and consumer acceptance. Challenges remain regarding clinical validation, standardization of bioactive composition, safety evaluation, and regulatory approval, which are essential for successful translation into evidence-based obesity management strategies. This review highlights the anti-obesity potential of Rhododendron and Rosa flowers, emphasizing their bioactive compounds, mechanistic pathways, and emerging AI-assisted applications in functional food development.
Abstract Root and tuber crops, including cassava ( Manihot esculenta Crantz ), sweet potato ( Ipomoea batatas L.), cocoyams ( Xanthosoma sagittifolium and Colocasia spp.), yam ( Dioscorea spp.) and potato ( Solanum spp.), present substantial potential for tackling the issues of global food security, especially in light of population growth and climate change. These crops thrive in diverse ecological zones, demonstrating remarkable resilience to marginal soils and harsh climatic conditions. Their nutritional diversity, including carbohydrates, vitamins, and bioactive compounds, positions them as key contributors to alleviating malnutrition and improving diet quality, especially in low-income regions. Beyond nutrition, advancements in biotechnology, such as genetic improvements and fermentation processes, have enhanced productivity, as well as safety, and industrial applicability of root and tuber crops. Applications extend from traditional foods to industrial products like biofuels, biodegradable materials, and pharmaceuticals, supporting economic growth and sustainable production systems. Moreover, innovative waste management strategies transform processing residues into eco-friendly solutions like compost and animal feed, reducing environmental impacts. This review focuses on the ecological adaptability, nutritional values, and industrial versatility of these crops, including their role in fostering sustainable food systems and agricultural economies. By integrating these crops into food security strategies, nations can enhance resilience, address malnutrition, increase utilization, and promote food sustainability.
Abstract Traditional knowledge systems (TKSs) have gained renewed importance in environmental governance and sustainability debates in response to climate change, biodiversity loss, and the limitations of technocratic resource management. This study systematically reviews and synthesises the multidisciplinary literature on TKS, with the objective of identifying its conceptual foundations, evaluating its empirical significance for biodiversity conservation, climate adaptation and resource management, and critically examining the institutional and epistemic barriers to its integration into mainstream sustainability governance. The review adopts a hybrid design combining PRISMA-guided screening, bibliometric mapping, and narrative thematic synthesis, drawing on Scopus bibliometric data (1631 records) and a PRISMA-screened corpus of 464 publications. Keyword co-occurrence analysis and narrative synthesis organise the literature into four thematic clusters: (i) the conceptual foundations of TKS as a system of environmental stewardship; (ii) its practical application in environmental governance and resource management; (iii) its uneven and often contradictory positioning within contemporary sustainability discourse, including the Sustainable Development Goals; and (iv) the legal, institutional, and governance frameworks shaping its recognition, protection, and epistemic justice. Building on this synthesis, the review further develops a contextual and pluralistic sustainability framework that integrates these- clusters into a conceptual model for TKS-inclusive environmental governance. The findings show that TKS functions as a dynamic and contextually embedded knowledge framework central to biodiversity conservation, climate resilience, and community-based governance, yet its incorporation into mainstream sustainability frameworks remains partial, instrumental, and often subordinate to scientific validation. The review argues for more plural, participatory, and justice-oriented approaches to sustainability governance, underscoring the relevance of TKS not as a supplementary resource but as a legitimate foundation for equitable environmental governance.
Abstract Global food production systems face mounting pressures from population growth, climate change, soil degradation, and the environmental costs of intensive agrochemical use. Biostimulants and biofertilizers are increasingly evaluated as complements to conventional inputs because they can improve plant nutrition, stress tolerance, and soil biological functioning. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to (1) quantify reported effects on crop yield; (2) examine moderators including product category, application method, crop type, climate, and soil conditions; (3) synthesize evidence on agroecosystem sustainability; and (4) assess the evidence base using the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) 2020 framework. Searches of Web of Science, Scopus, PubMed/MEDLINE, and Google Scholar covered January 2000 to December 2024. Following screening, 274 primary studies were retained for the evidence synthesis. Quantitative results were summarized as log response ratios (lnRR) and back-transformed percentage changes, with estimates for non-microbial biostimulants and microbial biofertilizers reported separately because the two evidence streams differed in study composition and moderator structure. Non-microbial biostimulants increased crop yield by 17.9% (95% CI [confidence interval]: 16.2–19.7%; lnRR = 0.165), with the largest reported response for soil application (+28.8%; 95% CI: 24.0–33.6%). Biofertilizers increased yield by 16.2% (95% CI: 15.2–17.2%; lnRR = 0.150), with stronger responses in dry climates (+20.0%; 95% CI: 18.3–21.7%). Vegetable crops showed the strongest response to non-microbial biostimulants, whereas legumes tended to respond strongly to biofertilizer inoculation. Because between-study heterogeneity was substantial, these averages are considered as context-dependent rather than universal effects. Thus, the evidence supports biostimulants and biofertilizers as potentially useful complements to synthetic inputs, particularly under abiotic stress or nutrient limitation, while highlighting the need for standardized formulations, transparent statistical reporting, long-term field validation, and context-specific application protocols.
